About Tobias William Frazer, SR., Choctaw Code Talker

Tobias William Frazier, Sr. (1892-1975) was a full-blood Choctaw Indian who was a member of the famous fourteen Choctaw Code Talkers. The Code Talkers pioneered the use of American Indian languages as military code during war. Their initial exploits took place during World War I, and were repeated by Native American tribes during World War II. They are referred to collectively as Code Talkers.

Frazier, in addition to his contribution to American history as a Choctaw Code Talker, also personifies the Choctaws’ success in accommodating the changes brought about by Oklahoma’s statehood, following the dissolution of their self-governing republic.

From Code Takers Association

Code Talker Tobias Frazier, 142nd Infantry, was born in Indian Territory, August 7 1892, to Reason and Susan Payne Frazier. Tobias helped break the Hindenberg line in 1918. Daughter Ruth Frazier McMillian says: Papa volunteered to defend our country on May 19, 1917. Deployed to Camp Bowie, near Forth Worth, Texas, the Native American soldiers were disappointed not to have their own regiment. They were combined with the Texas National Guard and became the 36th Division. Comments were made about the small structure of the Native men, and there ability to keep up with marching due to their small feet. They proved to be exceptional soldiers. Papa sailed for France on July 18th, 1918. I asked about his journey from Oklahoma to the east coast by train. He said it was a huge world and her eyes were big, looking at the sights. Papa received a flesh wound in the left leg from a snipers bullet and received a purple heart. He told us the sniper was killed by his buddies, when he saw the sniper, it looked like it was a woman. I would look at the scar and wonder if it were painful. He always said it was more painful playing football at Armstrong Academy than getting his war wound. Tobias Frazier died November 15, 1975.